Saturday, February 22, 2014

Maria
Chiara Marsciani was born in Rimini, Italy, a town of roman origins on the
Adriatic Sea and she moved to the US in 1994. She now lives with her family in
Potomac, Maryland and they happily share their home with two cats, one dog and
five fish. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending her time reading books
and magazines of all sorts, cooking new recipes to test with friends, and
gardening even if it is a never-ending struggle with deer, raccoons and
groundhogs.

Welcome
Maria!

Please
share some of the best memories of your childhood:

The
first one is definitely having the whole family gathered around the table
during the Holidays. I realize now that, as adults, they had conflicting
relationships and not always agreed on everything, but I was the youngest, I
was left out of the bickering and for me it was just a reassuring and
comforting time of the year.The
second one is a trip I took with my mom during which she showed me for the
first time the places in Italy where she grew up. It was nice to be just the
two of us. She was proud of it and I still remember how happy I was.

About
your education:

I
majored in clinical psychology. A friend once told me that being a psychologist
is not really a profession, but more of a diagnosis. He was probably right. In
any event, as soon as I graduated I got pregnant with my daughter and I decided
to stay at home and dedicate myself full time to raise her. It was the best
decision I ever made.

What
languages you can speak and write?

Italian
is my primary language, then English. In middle school I studied German and
Latin, and a few years ago I studied Japanese, although I have to admit that I
can just say a few words of each. One of my goals in life is to learn Spanish.

What is
your biggest source of inspiration in life: anything that can move me, that
gives me emotions. Usually, inspiration comes from small things that touch my
chords inside, like a wild bird that stops at the feeder in front of my
office’s window, a sequence of notes in a song, or an unusual color of the sky.
I can write of things I didn’t experience first hand, but I could never write
about something I don’t feel.

What
hurts you most in this world:

Close-mindedness.
Nothing good ever comes from it.

What is
the biggest challenge you have faced?

I have
two. The first one it was seeing myself for the first time through my
daughter’s eyes: kids see the real you and their frankness has no pity. The
second one, and more recent, was being diagnosed with a tumor of the parotid
gland (gland I didn’t even know I had!). The thought of not being able to watch
my daughter growing up and of not being able to be next to her during the
difficult times of life it was unbearable. Luckily, it ended well.

What is
your favorite genre and why? I like anything that can give me insight, it
doesn’t really matter what genre it comes from.

Which
of your work has been published so far?

“Urbino,
Unexpectedly” is my first novel and has been published January 1st
2014 (my daughter’s 10th birthday). It is set in Italy between the
frivolous Adriatic coast, the Alps, foggy Milan and colorful Rome. It is a
coming-of-age journey that explores how the power of love helps Clara (22
year-old) to detach herself from family expectations and cultural traditions in
order to find who she truly is.

What
are your forthcoming writings?

I’m now
writing my second novel. This one explores the relationship and the love of an
adult couple, but with a touch of suspense.

Your
origin of birth and other countries you have visited/ stayed. What best things
you liked in these countries around the globe?

I was
born and raised in Italy; there, I like the food, the art, my family, and the
little hamlets next to my hometown. I left when I was 23 and I now live in the
US; here, I like the desert, the vast open spaces, the energy of NYC and DC,
and the possibility to dream. I spent three weeks in Japan and I loved the
harmony of nature.

Your
favorite time of the day? Morning. Every day is a new beginning.

Your
zodiac? Libra

Your
favorite color and why? I used to say blue, but now it is white like a canvas
to fill every day with different colors.

Your
favorite book?

It’s
difficult to choose only one. Children: The wizard of Oz (never underestimate
yourself and never be scared) Classics: Pride and prejudice (communication is
the key to healthy relationships, but the untold can be so fascinating).
Contemporary: The trilogy of ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo’ (how to resist
Lisbeth’s personality?).

Your
favorite food? Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Some
quickies:

Sun or
Moon: Sun

Laughter
or Smile: Laughter

Morning
or Evening: Morning

Coffee
or Tea: Tea. I know it’s not very Italian, but I’m coffee intolerant.

Mountain
or Sea: Sea

Long
Drive or Short Drive: under three hours, please!

Silence
or Conversation: Silence. If you listen carefully, it can teach you more than a
thousand words.